The Best Rail Pass in Taiwan to Get More Bang for Your Buck!
Spanning night markets, rich heritage, and crazy nightlife, Taiwan really is a country that never sleeps. Covering a wide 36,193 square-kilometers of land and home to over 23 million people, traveling across Taiwan may seem challenging at first, especially for first-time visitors. But thanks to to the wide array of railways available, traveling within the five main cities just got a whole lot easier!
To help you plan your trip to Taiwan, we’ve come up with this handy guide on the best rail pass to get for your visit — read on to learn more about the different rail passes and how to travel around Taiwan in the most cost-effective and convenient way.
What are the different rail passes in Taiwan?
1. Taiwan High Speed Rail Pass
The Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) connects major cities from the North to the South. It is the fastest and most convenient form of transport around the country — the journey from Taipei to Kaohsiung takes just 90 minutes! Travel from Taipei to other cities at your own pace with these Taiwan High Speed Rail one-way tickets. For travel inspiration, check out our guide and itinerary from Taipei to Taichung by rail!
However, if you are rushing from city to city, or simply dislike long and boring train rides, then we recommend getting the Taiwan High Speed Rail Unlimited Tourist Pass instead! With unlimited train travel on the entire THSR line for two or three days, you’ll be checking locations off your itinerary in no time with these high speed rail Taiwan tickets!
Klook Tip: The THSR only brings you to the major cities within Taiwan, such as Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Nangang, Banqiao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Chiayi, Changhua, Miaoli and Yunlin. If you wish to travel to other parts of Taiwan, then you will have to take the Taiwan Railway (TR).
Check out our in-depth guide to navigating Taiwan’s High Speed Rail and the tourist attractions you can visit with the pass.
2. Taiwan Railway 5-Day Joint Train Pass
The Taiwan Railway (TR) is a massive track spanning 1,117.9 kilometers across the whole of Taiwan. With over 13 types of trains, there isn’t a place in the country that it can’t take you to! TR is one of the most common modes of transportation for locals as it spans both major and inner cities.
If you’ll be boarding the Taiwan Railway often during your visit, then try out the 5-Day Joint Train Pass! With five days of unlimited Travel on the Taiwan Railway network, you’ll get to experience seamless travels all over Taiwan. To make it even better, the 5-Day Joint Train Pass also includes two days of unlimited travel on the Taiwan High Speed Rail network — perfect if you’re planning on visiting cities on the other end of Taiwan!
Klook Tip: Want to know how to make the most of both passes? Bookmark this guide on maximizing the TSHR and TR passes.
3. Metro Pass
Photo Credit: Philippe Yuan on Unsplash
The Taiwan Metro system began with the Taipei Metro, which was the first-ever metro system built in the country. You’ll likely be spending most of your time in Taipei, so it’ll be good to familiarize yourself with the Taipei Metro in advance.
The Taipei Metro has six different lines spanning a hundred stations across Taipei, with some of them connected to other rail systems (e.g., THSR, Taoyuan Airport MRT, and Danhai LRT.) To start planning your itinerary, check out the route map and timetables on the official Taipei Metro website.
If you’re not planning to travel around much, then you can simply buy one-way tickets at all Taipei Metro stations by going to the machines or at the counter. However, if your itinerary will be taking you all over the city, then we recommend buying an Easycard instead, a reloadable card that you can use across the entire Taipei Metro line. Just deposit balance into your Easycard before your first train journey, and you’re all set to go!
The Easycard also has a ton of other awesome benefits — you can use it for other train lines in Taiwan (such as Kaohsiung MRT) and for downtown buses, YouBike, T Bike, and C Bikes in multiple cities. It’s also valid for use in select attractions and shops like 7-11, Family Mart, OK Mart, and Starbucks, so you’ll have an all-in-one card that you’ll be using for most of your purchases and rides while in Taipei.
Klook Tip: For first time travelers to Taiwan who are looking to explore the city and beyond (i.e. places like Kaohsiung), we recommend purchasing the 5 Day Joint Train Pass together with a Taipei Metro Pass for full coverage.
Need more ideas on where to go in Taipei? Here are some tourist spots you can visit by rail.
4. Taoyuan Metro
Photo Credit: Lisanto on Unsplash
As simple as it sounds, the Taoyuan Airport Metro’s purpose is to ferry travelers from the airport to major destinations in metropolitan Taipei. With travel between the airport and Taipei taking only 40 minutes, it’s definitely one of the rail passes you’re most likely to book for your trip!
But if you’re traveling in large groups or with a ton of luggage, and you’re interested in exploring one of Taiwan’s scenic roads, then we recommend getting a car rental instead, which allows you to travel at your own pace.
Which Taiwan Rail Pass should I get?
The different passes are each beneficial in their own way. Ultimately, it depends on your intended locations and your trip duration.
- Spending most of your time in Taipei? Getting the Taipei EasyCard will suffice!
- Looking to explore Taiwan’s major cities in the shortest time possible? The Taiwan High Speed Rail pass is for you.
- Have time on your hands and want to explore both the main and inner cities? Choose the Taiwan Railway5-Day Joint Train Pass!
While many may say that it is impossible to explore the whole of Taiwan in just seven days, shorter traveling times will definitely help! To make the most out of your visit, we recommend the 5 Day Joint Rail Pass for full access to the two most powerful lines in Taiwan — the THSR and the TR — at prices that offer the best value for your money!
Klook Tip: Looking for travel inspiration for a quick getaway in Taiwan? Check out our take on a 3-day holiday in Taiwan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the difference between the area coverage among THSR, TRA, Taipei Metro, and Taoyuan Metro passes?
A:
- THSR: Covers the major cities around Taiwan at the fastest speed, but not the inner cities.
- TRA: Covers both major and inner cities across Taiwan, but travels at a slower speed.
- Taipei Metro: Covers Taipei only.
- Taoyuan Metro: Covers Taoyuan and select cities only.
Q: Where and how do I purchase my passes?
A: You can purchase all four passes directly on Klook, or at the information counter located in every railway station around Taiwan respectively.
Q: I am only traveling in Taipei, do I need a Taiwan Railway Train Administration (TRA) pass?
A: Certain parts of Taipei are not accessible using the Taipei MRT — for example, popular day trip spots such as Jiufen and Shifen are best-accessed via the Taiwan Railway. You might still want to consider getting a TRA pass, or commute by a local bus service, to travel to these must-see places.
Klook Tip: Curious about exploring other nearby destinations? We’ve also got a list of spots you might want to see while traveling around New Taipei City by rail.
Q: What is the difference between Business pass and Standard passes for THSR?
A: The Business Pass grants you access to reserved seating and more legroom than the standard pass. If commuting with comfort is a priority, the Business pass is your best bet!
Q: How do I redeem my 5 Day Joint Train Pass (THSR + TRA) from Klook?
A: Redeem your THSR and Taiwan Rail passes in 2 easy steps!
THSR Pass:
Step 1: Redeem your Taiwan High Speed Rail Tourist Pass on the official THSR website (click “Manage” and enter the relevant information.)
Step 2: Enter your travel routes and reserve your seats.
Step 3: Redeem your physical Taiwan High Speed Rail Tourist Pass at any THSR Ticket Counter by presenting your passport and a valid entry document.
Step 4: To board your trains, present your THSR pass at the gates.
TRA Pass:
Step 1: Visit a TRA train station to collect your TRA Joint Pass first
Step 2: After redeeming your pass, you’ll need to use the enter and exit platforms through a manual ticket gate
Start noting down the most interesting tourist destinations for your Taiwan trip now. You’ll surely have time to see most, if not all, of these locations with efficient transportation provided by the Taiwan Railway System. But before you start planning, make sure you have all the travel requirements for Taiwan that you need — check out our guide for reference!
Updated by: Gabby Mendoza
